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Double tracking
A procedure that allows the Senate to continue business during a filibuster by temporarily shelving the disputed bill.
Cloture
a vote to limit debate in the Senate so that people can vote on a bill, ends a filibuster. (60 votes needed)
Exception of cloture
All judiciary appointments only need 51 votes to invoke ____.
Discharge petition
A method to bring a bill out of committee for a floor vote; requires a majority vote (51%) and is not easy or typical.
Filibuster
used in the Senate to delay a vote on legislation or confirmation
Open rule
A procedural rule that allows House bills to be amended on the floor.
Closed rule
A procedural rule in the House that does not allow bills to be amended on the floor.
Rider
An unrelated amendment added to a bill.
Safe district
A district where an incumbent receives over 55% of the vote.
Markup
The process of revising and making changes to a bill in committee.
Franking privilege
The right of members of Congress to send mail to constituents free of charge.
Conference committee
A committee appointed to resolve differences between House and Senate bills.
Christmas tree bill
An emergency spending bill that contains many riders or amendments, often referred to as 'unrelated ornaments'.
Caucus
A meeting of like-minded members of Congress to discuss policy or related concerns.
Earmarks
Provisions that set aside parts of a budget for specific projects or exempt someone or groups from taxes or fees.
Standing committees
Permanently established committees that review and are responsible for legislation in specific areas.
Select committees
Temporary congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.
Joint committees
Committees composed of both senators and representatives.
Party vote
Occurs when 90% or more of Democrats vote against 90% or more of Republicans (strict measure), or when 50% of Democrats vote against 50% of Republicans (looser measure).
Appropriation bill
A law that provides an agency with budget authority and directs the spending of money.
Sequential referral
A congressional process allowing the Speaker to send a bill to a second committee after the first has acted.
Restrictive rule
An order from the Rules Committee allowing certain types of amendments but not others to be made to a bill on the floor.
Quorum
The minimum number of members required to be present to conduct congressional business.
Quorum call
A procedure used by both houses to summon the necessary number of members to conduct business.
Veto
The president's power to disapprove a bill, which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.
Table a bill
A decision by a committee to end consideration of a bill, indicating they are no longer interested.
Unanimous consent
A situation in the Senate where no member objects to a proposal.
Hold
a senator objects to an appointment, senator doesn’t vote on an appointment.
Logrolling
The practice of congressional members supporting each other’s bills to ensure their own bills pass.
The senate has 100 members whereas the House has 435 members
Size difference in the senate
House powers
Brings impeachment charges.
May choose the President if there is no majority in the electoral system.
Must start all revenue bills (power of the purse →No taxation w/o representation).
Senate powers
Acts as jury in impeachment trials (⅔ vote needed)
May choose the Vice Pres. if there is no majority in the electoral system.
Must ratify treaties with foreign nations by ⅔ vote.
Must approve Presidential appointments (majority vote needed - 51 votes).
The population of a state
Determines the number of House members for that state
running for a safe seat
Can use franking privileges
Advantages of an incumbent member of Congress
Party polarization
When Democrats and Republicans pull further away from the “center,” thus having completely different ideologies. Or it is a vote in which a majority of democrats vote against a majority of Republicans.
Reasons why part polarization has increased
partisan media, ideological sorting, and gerrymandering (politicians drawing boundaries of voting districts in a way that favors their own party).
Divided government
When one political party dominates one part of government and another political party dominates another party of government (executive vs. legislative). It increases over time.
Positives of divided government
a board consensus on issues, allows both parties to take political credit, and avoids tyranny.
Negatives of a divided government
Partisanship (doing things for political points and not for the people)
Gridlock (neither party wanting to cooperate, leading to no action taking place)
2 powers specific to the Senate
Confirm Presidential appointments (cabinet, lower court justices, Supreme Court justices)
Ratify treaties.
Fewer members
The Senate faces fewer organizational problems than the House because there are _______, thus allowing more flexibility such as unlimited debates.
3 actions by which the majority controls the Senate
Hold the majority votes on legislation
Schedules the business of the Senate.
Chairs all committees.
Whip
selected by the majority leader to inform the leader on what the party members are thinking. Used to assist the party leaders in controlling their members.
Delegate Model
Legislators does exactly what their constituents want; votes on constituent’s preferences.
Trustee Model
Legislators act in ways that they believe is best for the people; use their own judgment.
Politico Model
Legislator does a combination of both the Delegate and Trustee models.
Role of speaker of the house
decides who shall be recognized to speak on the floor of the House, rules whether a motion is relevant and germane to the business at hand, and decides the committees to which new bills shall be assigned.
Role of the Majority Leader of the Senate
schedule the business of the Senate, usually in consultation with the minority leader.
Why is the rules committee so powerful?
They decide to what degree and the rules of a debate in the House. Also determines rules for amendments and voting bills in the House.
Their ratios in the house or senate
The number of democrats and republicans on each committee is determined by..
What is done at the committee and subcommittee levels?
Research, Hearings, markups, voting on whether or not the bill goes to the full committee and further on to the House/Senate floor.
Pork barrel legislation
Bills that give tangible benefits (highways, dams, post offices) to constituents in hope of winning their votes in return. These bills usually only benefit very specific people in certain areas and not the U.S. as a whole.
difference between earmarks and pork barrel legislation
pork barrel legislation is seen as wasteful and used as a political tool.
Casework
the response or services that members of congress provide to constituents who request assistance with a problem dealing with some federal agency.
Social Security Benefits, immigration, veteran benefits.
Examples of casework
Censure
a formal reprimand of a member of congress
Expulsion
Removal of a member of congress
Mandatory spending
things that by law the government has to spend money on no mater what. Includes Social Security, Medicare, and Net interest.
Net Interest
we are obligated to pay this on our national debt because we are borrowers as a country.
Discretions spending
other priorities that need to be approved by the Appropriations Committees in both Houses of Congress. Includes national defense. Spent at the discretion of the executive branch
Ethics violations
Conflict of interest, quid pro quo, bribe
Conflict of interest
a situation in which a person is in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in their official capacity.
Quid pro quo
an exchange of goods or services, in which one transfer is contingent upon the other; "a favor for a favor". ("I'll do something for you, if you do something for me,")
Bribe
an illegal or unethical gift or lobbying effort bestowed to influence the recipient's conduct.
Process of the house in order
Bill is introduced in the house
Bill is marked-up by subcommittee.
Bill is voted on by subcommittee.
Bill is sent to standing committee.
Bill is voted on by standing Committee
Bill is sent to the Rules Committee.
Bill is debated in the House.
Bill is voted on by entire House
Bill is sent to conference committee.
President receives bill.
Note 
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